Opinion Pieces - Mark Dreyfus QC MPhttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/opinion_pieces
In an era of ignorance and fake news, cold hard facts have never been more important<p>Huffington Post Australia</p>Tue, 30 May 2017 14:14:00 +1000Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/in_an_era_of_ignorance_and_fake_news_cold_hard_facts
Torture doesn't 'work' and we must rebuff anyone who says otherwise<p>Huffington Post Australia, 1 February 2017</p>Wed, 01 Feb 2017 17:02:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/torture_doesn_t_work_and_we_must_rebuff_anyone_who_says_otherwise
18C inquiry an insult to free speech and ignores reality<p><span style="color: #252121; font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><em>First </em><a href="http://www.afr.com/business/legal/fig-leaf-inquiry-into-18c-could-weaken-free-speech-20161108-gskeli"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em>published</em></span></a><em> in the Australian Financial Review on Friday, 11 November 2016</em></span></p>Fri, 11 Nov 2016 11:41:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/18c_inquiry_an_insult_to_free_speech_and_ignores_reality
Where Are The Arts In Turnbull's Agility Spin?<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those in the arts community would have had mixed feelings about Tuesday night’s budget. Disappointed that there were absolutely zero new initiatives, but also perhaps relieved there was no new pain.</span></span></p>Fri, 06 May 2016 18:06:00 +1000Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/where_are_the_arts_in_turnbull_s_agility_spin
Our Watchdogs Should Not Have To Fear Attack<p>The Human Rights Commission has just been through one of its most testing periods since it was established in its current form in 1986.</p>Tue, 03 May 2016 14:04:00 +1000Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/our_watchdogs_should_not_have_to_fear_attack
The Only Way To Learn The True Health Of Our Financial Services Industry<p>Royal Commissions are one of the most powerful instruments of executive government, with great resources at their disposal and significant coercive powers to inquire and to interrogate individuals.</p>Fri, 15 Apr 2016 10:09:00 +1000Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/the_only_way_to_learn_the_true_health_of_our_financial_services_industry
Why Malcolm Turnbull Should Reverse The Destructive, Clumsy and Dumb CSIRO Cuts<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: medium;">The New York Times has not just written about the CSIRO cuts but also </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/04/opinion/australia-turns-its-back-on-climate-science.html"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">editorialised against them</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;">, attributing them to “a deplorable misunderstanding of the importance of basic research into what is arguably the greatest challenge facing the planet.”</span></span></p>Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:52:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/why_malcolm_turnbull_should_reverse_the_destructive_clumsy_and_dumb_csiro_cuts
George Brandis Has Failed The Test On Appointments To The Bench<p>Attorney-General George Brandis has now been in office for more than two years. In that time, he has appointed some 17 judges to the federal courts he is tasked with overseeing and maintaining.</p>Fri, 18 Dec 2015 11:53:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/george_brandis_has_failed_the_test_on_appointments_to_the_bench
If George Brandis won't stand up for the Rule of Law, why is he the Attorney-General?<p>According to leaked accounts of a May Cabinet meeting the attorney general, George Brandis, declared grandly to his colleagues: “I am the attorney general. It is my job to stand for the rule of law.”</p>Fri, 28 Aug 2015 21:58:00 +1000Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/if_george_brandis_won_t_stand_up_for_the_rule_of_law_why_is_he_the_attorney_general
Thuggish attacks on the Human Rights Commission should not be tolerated<p><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><em>This piece was published in Guardian Australia on Tuesday 17 February 2015.</em></span><em> </em></span></p>
<p>Good government, Tony Abbott told us, started last Monday. It was a short-lived experiment. By Thursday, we were subjected to the undignified spectacle of the prime minister and his senior colleagues throwing punches over the release by the Human Rights Commission of a report on children in immigration detention. </p>Tue, 17 Feb 2015 10:53:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/thuggish_attacks_on_the_human_rights_commission_should_not_be_tolerated
Opinion Piece - George Brandis, The Dangerously Divisive Attorney General<p style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 9.75pt;"><em><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: windowtext;">This piece was published in Guardian Australia on Monday 12 May 2014.</span> </span></em></p>
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<p style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 9.75pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Not many federal attorney generals make a mark on the public consciousness. This is particularly the case in conservative governments, with attorney generals traditionally taking conformist and largely passive approach to their role, often doing little in the way of law reform or advocacy. As such, they usually remain largely unknown to most Australians outside of legal circles.</span></span></p>Mon, 12 May 2014 16:50:00 +1000Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/opinion_piece_george_brandis_the_dangerously_divisive_attorney_general1
We Can All Be Proud Of This Victory<p><span>After a long legal battle with Japan over its ongoing whaling program, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) this week delivered a historic and resounding decision in favour of Australia. The ICJ upheld Australia's arguments that Japan's whaling program in the Southern Ocean is in breach of Japan's international legal obligations, and must be brought to an end.</span></p>Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:52:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/we_can_all_be_proud_of_this_victory4
Libs' sovereign risk talk is a cheap shot <p>The Dreyfus Files - The Age</p>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:53:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/libs_sovereign_risk_talk_is_a_cheap_shot
Making an ally of the land in the fight against climate change <p>The Dreyfus Files - The Age.</p>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:54:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/making_an_ally_of_the_land_in_the_fight_against_climate_change
Mr No says yes: Abbott stokes dissent <p>The Dreyfus Files - The Age</p>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:54:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/mr_no_says_yes_abbott_stokes_dissent
Taking a punt on commercial property? <p>The Dreyfus Files - The Age</p>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:55:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/taking_a_punt_on_commercial_property
Baillieu government joining Abbott's circus<p>The Dreyfus Files - The Age</p>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:56:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/baillieu_government_joining_abbott_s_circus
More wrecking from Abbott <p>The Dreyfus Files - The Age</p>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/more_wrecking_from_abbott
Liberals: big on cost, small on action <p>The Dreyfus Files - The Age</p>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +1100Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/liberals_big_on_cost_small_on_action
We need a public holiday for the grand final <p>The Dreyfus Files - The Age</p>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:01:00 +1000Mark Dreyfushttp://markdreyfus.nationbuilder.com/we_need_a_public_holiday_for_the_grand_final